the tribunal reversed their decision and the sand mining project is officially dead. we actually did it and i am so thankful for everyone who helped put a stop to this. stay tuned because we are going to keep an eye on these slopes to make sure they stay protected.
March 11, 2017
Final supporters
We demand that the Swartland Municipal Tribunal reverse its grant of consent use to authorise sand mining activities on the Paardeberg.
The Paardeberg is a sprawling granitic mountain in the Swartland area of the Western Cape in South Africa,
near the town of Malmesbury and just an hour from Cape Town. It got its Dutch name “Horse Mountain”
from the zebra-like animals which once roamed here. Today, the higher
reaches of this beautiful mountain are still covered with natural vegetation, but the kloofs (valleys)
and lower slopes are home to innumerable grapevines. Rutted gravel
roads lead to the dotted farmhouses and wineries. This century, the
Paardeberg has been the focus of an extraordinary revolution in
wine making, ensuring that it, and the Swartland have become
internationally famous for its wines.
But the mountain habitat, rural atmosphere and viticultural heritage of the Paardeberg is being violently threatened, and the responsible authorities are allowing it to happen.
The Paardeberg is being targeted by sand mining companies and a few farmers are willing to allow the area to be despoiled in exchange for, of course, profit.
A crucial stage in getting permits for such mining operations is getting permission from the local authorities. Despite detailed objections, the Swartland Municipal Tribunal has now (February 2017) granted consent use to authorise mining activities on two farms in the area – an awful precedent: how many more will follow?
The Protect the Paardeberg Coalition has been formed by farmers in the area, with other individuals and organisations to fight any exploitation that would lead to the degradation of its agricultural potential, sustainable jobs, biodiversity and responsible eco-tourism. Living in a time in which natural habitats together with their flora and fauna are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, this precious place and the activities that flow from it must be protected by us all.
We will fight any attempts to crowd the Paardeberg’s roads with massive sand-bearing trucks endangering the lives of local kids walking to school and unsightly sand pits that destroy its nature and potential for tourism.
Like Gandhi, we believe that "The earth has enough resources for our need, but not for our greed."
The Coalition is lodging an appeal against the regrettable decisions of the Municipality. The appeals will be lodged with the Executive Mayor of Swartland Municipality during March 2017 by Adv Martin Coetzee. Please sign this petition urging them to reverse their permission for sand mining on the Paardeberg.
LINKS
For more information see:
http://grape.co.za/2017/02/a-sad-day-for-swartland-wine/
Or follow us on FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/protectthepaardeberg/
In association with the Paardeberg Sustainability Initiative, a non-profit organisation mainly focusing on sustainable development and promoting methods to conserve the natural ecological biosphere of our wonderful and rare Cape Floristic Region, we aim to preserve our natural heritage. Learn more about the PSI and their initiatives: https://www.facebook.com/www.psiprojects.co.za/
Statement from VinPro and Wines of South Africa: "
Sand mining poses risk to wine and tourism industries"
http://vinpro.co.za/sand-mining-poses-risk-wine-to...
Article in Drinks Business: "Sadie ‘gobsmacked’ as Swartland opens door to sandmining"https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/02/eben-sad...
Article in Die Burger reporting on the Vinpro statement and the issues
http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/die-burger...
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 21, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 17, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2017
967 Comments
As an expat and supplier of Swartland wines to the US, this news hits close to home in many ways. The Swartland wine industry is making tremendous, innovative strides for the category of South African wine and we must protect it for the future. #protectthepaardeberg
Bewaar asseblief ons natuurlewe! Daar is so min habitat nog oor. Gun asb ook die diere en plante 'n reg om te bestaan. Daar is genoeg plekke vir sandmyne op minder sensitiewe gebiede. Asseblief. Moenie nog sandmyne in die Perdeberg toelaat nie!!!
Read a few articles re the sand mining ... didn't note any environmental impact study findings ... can't believe for a second the licenses would have been issued based on the findings ... the Paardeberg should be declared a heritage site for the future.
The effect on this pristine wine country will undoubtedly destroy the essence of the Swartland wine region. This land cannot be sacrificed for the sake of greed. This assets has to be presserved and nurtured for what it is, a world class wine region not a sand pit.
This is a highly suspicious decision by the municipality and flies in the face of the western capes efforts to market itself as a wine tourism hotspot. The latter providing a far greater number of sustainable jobs than the stripping of a small, but vital area for sand.
Stop the mining.
Stop MINING!
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
the tribunal reversed their decision and the sand mining project is officially dead. we actually did it and i am so thankful for everyone who helped put a stop to this. stay tuned because we are going to keep an eye on these slopes to make sure they stay protected.
March 11, 2017
Final supporters
We demand that the Swartland Municipal Tribunal reverse its grant of consent use to authorise sand mining activities on the Paardeberg.
The Paardeberg is a sprawling granitic mountain in the Swartland area of the Western Cape in South Africa,
near the town of Malmesbury and just an hour from Cape Town. It got its Dutch name “Horse Mountain”
from the zebra-like animals which once roamed here. Today, the higher
reaches of this beautiful mountain are still covered with natural vegetation, but the kloofs (valleys)
and lower slopes are home to innumerable grapevines. Rutted gravel
roads lead to the dotted farmhouses and wineries. This century, the
Paardeberg has been the focus of an extraordinary revolution in
wine making, ensuring that it, and the Swartland have become
internationally famous for its wines.
But the mountain habitat, rural atmosphere and viticultural heritage of the Paardeberg is being violently threatened, and the responsible authorities are allowing it to happen.
The Paardeberg is being targeted by sand mining companies and a few farmers are willing to allow the area to be despoiled in exchange for, of course, profit.
A crucial stage in getting permits for such mining operations is getting permission from the local authorities. Despite detailed objections, the Swartland Municipal Tribunal has now (February 2017) granted consent use to authorise mining activities on two farms in the area – an awful precedent: how many more will follow?
The Protect the Paardeberg Coalition has been formed by farmers in the area, with other individuals and organisations to fight any exploitation that would lead to the degradation of its agricultural potential, sustainable jobs, biodiversity and responsible eco-tourism. Living in a time in which natural habitats together with their flora and fauna are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, this precious place and the activities that flow from it must be protected by us all.
We will fight any attempts to crowd the Paardeberg’s roads with massive sand-bearing trucks endangering the lives of local kids walking to school and unsightly sand pits that destroy its nature and potential for tourism.
Like Gandhi, we believe that "The earth has enough resources for our need, but not for our greed."
The Coalition is lodging an appeal against the regrettable decisions of the Municipality. The appeals will be lodged with the Executive Mayor of Swartland Municipality during March 2017 by Adv Martin Coetzee. Please sign this petition urging them to reverse their permission for sand mining on the Paardeberg.
LINKS
For more information see:
http://grape.co.za/2017/02/a-sad-day-for-swartland-wine/
Or follow us on FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/protectthepaardeberg/
In association with the Paardeberg Sustainability Initiative, a non-profit organisation mainly focusing on sustainable development and promoting methods to conserve the natural ecological biosphere of our wonderful and rare Cape Floristic Region, we aim to preserve our natural heritage. Learn more about the PSI and their initiatives: https://www.facebook.com/www.psiprojects.co.za/
Statement from VinPro and Wines of South Africa: "
Sand mining poses risk to wine and tourism industries"
http://vinpro.co.za/sand-mining-poses-risk-wine-to...
Article in Drinks Business: "Sadie ‘gobsmacked’ as Swartland opens door to sandmining"https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/02/eben-sad...
Article in Die Burger reporting on the Vinpro statement and the issues
http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/die-burger...
Updates
Reached 2,500 supporters
February 21, 2017
Reached 1,000 supporters
February 17, 2017
Reached 100 supporters
February 16, 2017
967 Comments
Agricultural land for Agriculture please! Do NOT destroy what has recently become one of the world's best wine-growing areas, offering huge benefits to the SA economy, through the export of wine, the employment of thousands of workers, and in-bound tourism.
As an expat and supplier of Swartland wines to the US, this news hits close to home in many ways. The Swartland wine industry is making tremendous, innovative strides for the category of South African wine and we must protect it for the future. #protectthepaardeberg
Bewaar asseblief ons natuurlewe! Daar is so min habitat nog oor. Gun asb ook die diere en plante 'n reg om te bestaan. Daar is genoeg plekke vir sandmyne op minder sensitiewe gebiede. Asseblief. Moenie nog sandmyne in die Perdeberg toelaat nie!!!
Read a few articles re the sand mining ... didn't note any environmental impact study findings ... can't believe for a second the licenses would have been issued based on the findings ... the Paardeberg should be declared a heritage site for the future.
The effect on this pristine wine country will undoubtedly destroy the essence of the Swartland wine region. This land cannot be sacrificed for the sake of greed. This assets has to be presserved and nurtured for what it is, a world class wine region not a sand pit.
This is a highly suspicious decision by the municipality and flies in the face of the western capes efforts to market itself as a wine tourism hotspot. The latter providing a far greater number of sustainable jobs than the stripping of a small, but vital area for sand.
Stop the mining.
Stop MINING!
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Agricultural land for Agriculture please! Do NOT destroy what has recently become one of the world's best wine-growing areas, offering huge benefits to the SA economy, through the export of wine, the employment of thousands of workers, and in-bound tourism.